Blackberry Life

[mark1a]

Hello and thanks for your comment.

I do still have this Caddy although I’ve gone from running it 18k miles a year in the beforetimes to 3-4k miles a year post-pandemic due to work being permanently based at home now.

Only update this year is the head unit replaced with Alpine iLX-705d (great unit) with the canbus unit for better integration. I was going to post about it when I got round to fitting the Vanstyle curtain set at some point.

Anyway, the rear suspension is stock factory Maxi Life, not sure whether it’s the double or single, but it’s definitely the softer option. It’s been fine although it occasionally bottoms out or hits the stops when loaded up a bit. My plan was always to look at this when either the shocks and/or bushes needed doing, and then upgrade front & rear springs then. However this is taking longer due to the much lower mileage.

Good luck with yours and thanks again.

[edgarjessop]

Rack is this one:
http://www.minoura.jp/english/transport ... o-tf2.html

With optional wheel holder:
http://www.minoura.jp/english/transport ... pport.html

I also have this for 2x bikes:
http://www.minoura.jp/english/transport ... sb-10.html

All above is fine for 9mm QR, I think it's possible to use with thru-axle but it wasn't straightforward so I got this for the thru-axle forks:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... te_s_rp_ti

All perfect for road & gravel bikes, but a bit lightweight for the 29er FS eMTB, so for that I use this with tie-down straps.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071RC7BP9/ ... _pc_tf_til

I've just bought a 2019 Blackberry Caddy Maxi and also need to transport a 29er FS eMTB, but can't get the last Amazon link to work. Do you have a more recent link, or photo/description of the rack? Thanks

[mark1a]

Hello, try this one:
Bike Floor Stand - Heavy Duty Bike Stands for Storage - Bike Stand Suitable for Indoor & Outdoor Bicycle Parking - Bicycle Storage Rack for Kids/Road/Mountain Bike Wheels https://amzn.eu/d/izsmvk6

Original link is 5 years old now, but new one above is similar.

[edgarjessop]

Hello, try this one:
Bike Floor Stand - Heavy Duty Bike Stands for Storage - Bike Stand Suitable for Indoor & Outdoor Bicycle Parking - Bicycle Storage Rack for Kids/Road/Mountain Bike Wheels https://amzn.eu/d/izsmvk6

Original link is 5 years old now, but new one above is similar.

Thank you, will get that ordered

[Mukki77]

Hello and thanks for your comment.

I do still have this Caddy although I’ve gone from running it 18k miles a year in the beforetimes to 3-4k miles a year post-pandemic due to work being permanently based at home now.

Only update this year is the head unit replaced with Alpine iLX-705d (great unit) with the canbus unit for better integration. I was going to post about it when I got round to fitting the Vanstyle curtain set at some point.

Anyway, the rear suspension is stock factory Maxi Life, not sure whether it’s the double or single, but it’s definitely the softer option. It’s been fine although it occasionally bottoms out or hits the stops when loaded up a bit. My plan was always to look at this when either the shocks and/or bushes needed doing, and then upgrade front & rear springs then. However this is taking longer due to the much lower mileage.

Good luck with yours and thanks again.

Hi thanks for the reply.

i now got into the Situation with the rear suspension. Mine got the double leaf spring option since the preowner put a Trailerhitch on the Caddy. Since i do not plan on towing anything heavy i might put single leaf spring back on. But since you have the same thing that with some little load it hits the stops etc. i might go to better Shocks first.

If you want to upgrade to double rear springs ... i have them on and its basically the same situation as yours when loading up a bit.

Lets see how we can solve this soft rear :-)

Thanks Mate :-)

[Teccyjim]

Getting some crazy ideas for my 2011 Maxi Life, just from reading this entire thread. My T5 lower half is painted blackberry (silver upper) so I knew this would turn out well! There's no better colour in the sun!

[mark1a]

AdBlue light back on and won’t go out after top up, this is the third time this has happened, and VW advise it needs a new AdBlue sensor (only available as part of the entire system) at a cost of £1116 inc vat and labour. Booked in next week, a bit annoying but in 8 years, nothing (other than a NOx sensor) has gone wrong and other than routine servicing and consumables, it’s been a really cheap van to run.

[mark1a]

Quick update... AdBlue tank changed and all good so far...

The Santiago wheels were starting to get a bit chatty around the spokes, the lacquer had peeled in places and water had got in.

I've just had the tyres swapped over to a set of 18" Estorils in black.

Makes for a different look I think, I'll get used to it...

[juliang71]

One of, if not the first build thread I read after getting my Maxi Life. A really good read, proving less is often more!! Have it bookmarked and stole a few ideas and mods for mine that have already been done. Maxi Life's are great looking vehicles.

Tempted to remove my roof rails now

[mark1a]

Wow thanks. Yes, less is more, aiming for OEM+ look, i.e. something resembling what would have been had VW ever made a sportier Caddy Maxi Life.

Roof rails - I had never used them, and haven't missed them since they came off. Very simple job once you have the correct blanking bolts and if you kept them, they could always go back on if you needed them.